The proposed UNDP and UNICEF joint project aims to strengthen the basic service provision system in Armenia, through a life-cycle approach and provision of continuous care and support to children and adults with disabilities. This includes habilitation and rehabilitation, health, social and developmental services, all of which are extremely weak or not available in most regions of Armenia. Persons with disabilities (including children with disabilities) have very limited choice when it comes to the needs-based services and support, especially in areas far from capital city. The project will assist the Armenian Government in its efforts to reform the disability assessment and service provision system by enhancing equitable access to services and participation of persons with disabilities in public life. 

The project will build on UNPD- and UNICEF-supported Government reform (since 2014), which resulted in the development and establishment of a human-rights based model of disability assessment. The project aims at developing the service system, focusing on areas requiring serious investment, for example: establishing a policy framework and service categories and making equipment and human capital available to serve the needs of persons with disabilities and as well as those of the broader population.

Armenia is one of the region’s leading countries that adopted the new model of disability assessment and since 2016 has generated significant expertise and knowledge in this regard that can be leveraged through the region and beyond. However, the next and much bigger effort for the Government now is the development of the service system, without which the reform process will not be complete.

The estimated three-year duration of the proposed project will allow sufficient time for setting up an inclusive service system in underserved areas. The project will be implemented in partnership with leading international service providers and research and rehabilitation centres from a range of countries, including Russia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Austria, and Finland. These potential partners offer rich learnings from experience and knowledge of best practices.

Given the rapid development of tech solutions that offer opportunities for equal participation of persons with disabilities in the social life, the project will also explore the possibilities for local innovation and testing of new social, digital and AI solutions, that could be shared globally.